Having been to over 50 martial arts camps (the vast majority are Modern Arnis camps) in the past couple of decades, I’ve learned ways to survive a martial arts camp and have fun!

For newbies, a weekend-long martial arts camp can seem daunting. How do they make sense of everything being taught, much less digest it all? The amount of time spent training seems overwhelming. When told that a full day at a Modern Arnis camp can involve 9 hours of training, “OH MY GOD” is the usual response. It’s not that bad.

Let’s transform “it’s not that bad” into “it’s always a blast!”

Here are the following tips for surviving a martial arts camp:

(1) Don’t focus on the number of hours you are going to train. Most camp sessions are broken up into hour-and-a-half sessions with water breaks. It is typical for a Modern Arnis camp, for example, to have two-hour breaks for lunch and dinner. Take advantage of these breaks to step back and refresh yourself mentally.

Chicken adobo: always a part of the Toronto camp!

Chicken Adobo- part of the Filipino dinner, a tradition at the Annual Toronto Modern Arnis Camp.

(2) Relax. You’re there to have fun!

Andy at the Toronto Camp.
Andy enjoying a joint lock courtesy of Master Chuck!

(3) Bring a notebook and/or a video camera. For those who want to advance their knowledge in the art they are studying, it is vitally important that you bring a notebook or a video camera to record concepts and techniques being taught. When you return home, you can refer to these notes, written or video, to practice what you learned more fully.

My preferred method is to scribble a few notes either in a notebook or on my iPhone. I’ll do video notes in the hotel room based on those notes. 

Or take some fun photos!

Master Chuck and Miguel at the 2012 Toronto camp.
Master Chuck with Miguel aka “The Real Deal” in 2012.

(4) Bring drinks and snacks for the breaks. Refresh yourself and give yourself an energy boost during breaks. This is a must for surviving a martial arts camp!

Not a camp drink!
Not this kind of drink you, mind you. 🙂

(5) Communicate with your training partner.  “Let’s figure this out;” “Let’s go slow.” You get the idea. When I worked with the late Karen Callahan, we constantly communicated our objectives whenever we trained together at a camp. She was particular about technique and doing things the right way. So, often, we train for muscle memory and get it right. Every once in a while, by agreement, we would go hard. The key is that we communicate. Miscommunications can sour the camp experience.

(6) Train with different partners. This is important. While it can be tempting to train with your best buddy or not want to leave your comfort zone, it is vitally important that you train with different partners.

You may encounter variables such as different sizes, speeds, and herky-jerky partners vs. smooth partners. The more people you train with, the more prepared you’ll be if that day ever comes.

(7) Don’t be an asshole. Karma can be a bitch. I have heard stories of people coming to camp to “show who’s boss” and generally being an asshole. This usually does not end well for them. Don’t be one of these folks. You won’t survive a camp if you’re a jerk.

(8) Network! Camps and seminars are always great opportunities to network. You can renew friendships and make new friends, and you never know where networking opportunities can lead. 

(9) If you’re driving a long distance to a camp, carpool with a buddy or two. This is especially important for your post-camp trip home. Years ago, after an exhausting Michigan camp, I was driving back home to Columbus, Ohio, when I fell asleep at the wheel. In the passenger seat, Dan McConnell realized what was happening and steered my car back onto the highway. We were headed toward concrete pillars underneath a bridge. We switched at the very next rest stop. Scary moment.

(10) Advil, Motrin, Aspirin, and essential oils: Some attendees will inevitably encounter aches, soreness, and pain during camp. Bring pain relievers and oils (whether Tiger Balm, Dit Da Jow, or a similar product) to take the edge off. Don’t forget this!

 Over to you, do you have any other tips for surviving a martial arts camp? Let’s hear them!

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